Federal Ministry of Education Implements Template for Safe School Reopening

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba has disclosed that the Federal Government has developed the safe school readiness template to accommodate a unified approach to the re-opening of schools.

Nwajiuba mentioned this during a meeting with stakeholders from the Northwest zone on the readiness for safe re-opening of schools organized by the United Nations Childen’s Fund (UNICEF), with support through the UNICEF Girls’ Education Project Phase 3 (GEP 3), Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

He stated that the safe school reopening template has some key roles and shared responsibilities to be played by relevant stakeholders at the national, state, local government, and school levels, adding that synergy is necessary for a successful implementation.

The Minister added that mechanisms have been put in place to discipline states or schools that violate the safe school reopening template. Reacting to this, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State said the meeting was held to determine the level of states’ readiness in ensuring the safety of school children.

The Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Rafid Saleh had earlier pledged the body’s support to the federal and state governments to ensure schools were safe and ready to provide a secure and supportive learning environment for all children in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Others at the meeting include Commissioners of Education and Health, Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Board Directors from Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, and Jigawa.